2024 REALHEARTLAND
Maximisingproductivityoverthesummermonths
ByPatrickCrawshaw DirectorBeef+LambNewZealand
Ithasbeenastrongstarttothe farmingcalendarinourregionandthe challengenowismaximiseproductivity overthenextfewmonths.
Atthetimeofwriting,wewerehoping forsomedecentrainfallwiththe Hawke’sBayRegionalCouncilhaving mostoftheregionunderadrought watch.TutiraNorthandcoastalHawke’s Bayareunderadroughtwarning.
Aswe’velearntfrompreviousdroughts, anearlydecisionisagooddecision, anditisimportanttobeproactive withourmanagementtoprotectthe performanceofourcapitalstockifthis dryweathercontinues.
Financially,itisgoingtobeanother toughyearforsheepandbeeffarmers, butweareseeinganeasingininterest rates,modestimprovementsinlamb schedules,apositiveoutlookforbeef andevenaliftinwoolprices.
Asfarmers,thereareanumberof factorswecancontrolthatcontributeto ourproductivityandprofitabilityandthis iswhereourfocusneedstobeoverthe comingmonths.
Forthoseofusfinishinglambs,internal parasitemanagementisarealissue asweseetripledrenchresistance becomingmorewidespread.
Wecannolongerrelyondrenchesas ourfirstlineofdefence,andIencourage
farmerstoeitherattendaBeef+Lamb NewZealandWormwiseworkshoporgo totheWormwisewebsiteforinformation onwormmanagementstrategies.
WeareluckytohavevetGinny DodunskiastheWormwiseProgramme Managerassheisbothknowledgeable andpragmaticaboutwhatworksonfarmandhowfarmerscaneffectively managewormsthroughouttheyear.She iswell-worthfollowingonFacebook. Inthesechallengingtimes,Ireally encouragepeopletomakefulluseof theirfarmsupportteam.Theseinclude
AlanMaxwell,MelissaHorsefield,TonyMossman
processorandorlivestockagents, agronomyandfertiliserreps,the bankmanager,accountantandfarm consultant.
Mosthaveinvaluableexpertiseand oftenexperienceinmakingthemost effectiveuseofeverydollarspenton thefarmandusefulsuggestionsfor managingcashflow.
Itisabusytimeoftheyearwhenthe pressureisontogetstockworkdone andcropsinthegroundwhilemanaging finances.
Itisimportantwealllookafterourselves andourteamsandensureeveryone takesregulartimeout.Initiativessuch asSurfingforFarmersgivesfarmersa reasontoknockoffearlyonedayaweek anddosomethingcompletelydifferent andfun.
Irecentlyattendedthisyear’sB+LNZ AwardsinHamiltonanditwasfantastic torecogniseandcelebrateourredmeat industry.
Wehaveworld-leadingscientists, outstandinginnovativefarmers, inspiringemergingachievers,greatrural champions,technologiesandsomany peoplewhohavecontributedsomuch toourindustryovertheirlifetime.
Ididn’tenvythejudgeswhohadtopick theoverallwinnersfromsuchahighcalibrefinalists,butitdidhighlightthe depthoftalentwehaveworkinginour sectorandthat’sworthcelebrating.
Lambdrench:Farmerscannolonger relyondrenchesastheirfirstlineof defenceagainstinternalparasites.
2024 REALHEARTLAND
Proudlysupporting heartlandcommunities fornearly75years
Fornearly75years,Stevenson andTaylorLtd(SNT)hasbeena cornerstoneofCentralHawke’s Bay,proudlyservingthelocaltownand agriculturalcommunity.Startingasa smalloperationinWaipukurau,wehave grownintoamultifacetedbusiness withanewbranchonOmahuRoadin Hastings.
Asalocallyownedcompany,we arededicatedtoprovidingtop-tier agriculturalservicesandproductstothe heartlandofNewZealand,makingusa trustedpartnerforfarmers,contractors, andhomeownersalike.
Weoffersevenkeydivisionstocater toawiderangeofcustomerneeds.
AsthehomeofCaseIHandNew Hollandtractors,weprovidenewand usedmachinery,complementedbyan extensivepartsdepartmenttokeep yourequipmentrunningsmoothly. Ourpartsselectionincludeseverything fromMilwaukeetoolsandCubCadet mowerstogenuineCaseIHandNew Hollandparts,aswellasheating solutionsfromYunca,Masport, Firenzo,andWagner.Whatever yourrequirements-beitfarmgear, machinery,orproductsforyourhomeourbroadproductofferingensureswe haveyoucovered.
Ourengineeringdepartmentisone ofourgreateststrengths.Whether fabricatingparts,executingcomplex repairs,CNCmachining,orengineering bespokeequipment,ourskilledteam deliverspractical,tailoredsolutions. Thisservice-orientedapproach allowsustomeettheuniqueneeds ofourcustomers,ensuringreliable, high-qualityresultseverytime.By providingcustomsolutionsandexpert craftsmanship,weofferpeaceofmind, knowingyourequipmentcanhandleany challenge.
Asweapproachour75thanniversary, we’vefacednumerouschallenges.From adaptingtoshiftsintheagricultural markettonavigatingsignificant environmentalchanges,ourresilience andadaptabilityhavebeenkeyto ourcontinuedsuccess.Ourrecent expansionintoHastingsmarksa significantmilestoneinourjourney. HavingoperatedaCaseIHbranch inWaipukurausince1951,thenew Hastingsbranchrepresentsanexciting stepforward.
Locatedat1420OmahuRd,Hastings, ourrenovatedfacilityhousessales, parts,andservicedepartments, alongsideanexpandedproductoffering thatnowincludestheNewHolland Agriculturebrand.
“Whilewealwaysenvisionedasecond dealershipinourlong-termplan,the opportunitytorepresentbothCaseIH andNewHollandarosesoonerthan expected.Expandingourdealership spaceandstaffingbecamean immediatepriority,”saysRobbySmith, GeneralManagerofStevensonand Taylor.
Lookingahead,ourvisionremains rootedinservingthecommunity.We aimtocontinueprovidingsolutionsand beingatrustedpartnerinruralsuccess. AsamajoremployerinCentralHawke’s Bay,we’veseenstaffremainpartofthe businessformuchoftheirlives.With ourexpansionintoHastings,wehopeto cultivatethesamereliabilityandtrustin ournewcommunitythatwe’vebuiltover decadesinCentralHawke’sBay.
Semi-MountedGyrorakewith7.70m-8.00mWorkingWidth,HydraulicAdjustment,Rear SteeringWheels,andRoadLights.AverageSwath:1.4m-2.3m.
Innovativeerosioncontrol:HBRCresearching newpoplarandwillowvarieties
Hawke’sBayRegionalCouncil (HBRC)ismakingstridesin sustainablelandmanagement anderosioncontroltosupportthe futureofHawke’sBay’spastoral landscapes.Acrucialpartofthiseffort isthedevelopmentofnewdroughtresistantpoplarandwillowvarieties, whichofferawinsolutionforfarmers andtheenvironment.Thesetrees arekeytoreducingsoilerosionon pastoralland,enablingcontinuedstock grazingwhileprotectingthelandfrom degradation.
Poplarandwillowpoleshavelongbeen thetrustedoptionforerosioncontrol, butplantingtheminthedry,exposed terrainoftheEastCoast—wheresoils areshallowandsummerdry—canpose achallenge.
Inresponse,theHBRCcatchmentteam haspartneredwiththeNewZealand PoplarandWillowResearchTrustto testnewpolevarieties,tappingintoa 30-yearbreedingprogramthathasbeen refiningpoplarandwillowvarietiesto meettheuniquechallengesfacedby farmersacrossNewZealand.
HBRC’sColinStace,acatchment advisorwithover16yearsofexperience inpoplarandwillowresearch,isleading theprogram.
“AtourAllenRoadpolenursery,we’re growingseveralexperimentalvarieties,
includingthe‘Wai-iti’poplar,which showssomepromiseforcoastalhill country,”saysMrStace.
“Thisseason,we’velaunchedtrials comparingWai-ititostandardpoplar varietieslikeVeroneseandCrowsnest, andwillowvarietiessuchasTangoioand Matsudana.Thetrialsarespreadacross keysites,includingPōrangahauandthe iconicCapeKidnappers.”
Inadditiontotestingnewspecies, theteamisexploringbestpractice forplantingpoplarsindrierareas whereunrootedmaterialwillstruggle toestablish.Saplingpoplars,referred toas‘rootedcuttings’,haveasurvival advantageinthosesituations,and arecurrentlybeingtestedonadry,
northwest-facingsiteatSherenden.The trialisevaluatingtheperformanceof bothbare-rootedandpottedVeronese poplars,plantedintreeshelterand cage-typeprotectors.
“We’reexcitedaboutthisresearchand howitcansupportfarmersintackling hillcountryerosion,asignificantissuein ourregion,”MrStacesays.
Henotesthatoneofthechallengesto usingrootedtreeshasbeentheneed totemporarilyexcludecattlefrom theplantingarea,whichthrowsupa challengeformostfarmers.Butrecent innovations,suchascattle-prooftree protectorsoraffordablesolar-powered electricfenceenergisers,arenow
providinglandownerswithmoreoptions toadoptthesesolutions.
“Farmersarebecomingincreasingly interestedinrootedtrees,recognising theirpotentialtonotonlyreduce erosionbutalsopromotesustainable farmingpractices,”hesays.
Throughtheseinnovativeefforts, HBRCisnotjustaddressingimmediate erosionconcerns;itisalsobuildinga moresustainableandresilientfuturefor Hawke’sBay.
Bycombiningfreshresearchwith communitycollaboration,theCouncil issettinganexampleofhowproactive landmanagementcanbenefitboththe environmentandtheagriculturalsector.
EstablishedandrecentPoplarplantingsinPorangahau.
businessand accountingneeds, getintouchtoday.
ColinStaceupdatingstaffonpre-plantingpolecare.
HearwhatNZfarmershadtosayafterfeedingSTAMINA: www.stamina.co.nz/testimonials
FindSTAMINAatyourlocalPGGWstoreorcallusatMedallion(06)8589899
FormoreinformationonSTAMINA,gotowww.stamina.co.nz
Vegetableproduction-amatterofnationalimportance
ByMichelleSands, HortNZgeneralmanagerofstrategy andpolicy
Hawke’sBayisNewZealand’sfood basket.InthewakeofCyclone Gabrielle,therewasaneedfor somelandtobeusedforannualcrops likevegetables.Aspartofitsrecovery fromsiltinundation,somegrowers determinedthatitsfloodingriskprofile maymakeitmoresuitableforannual cropsthanperennialcrops.
CycloneGabriellehighlightsthe importanceofretaininglanduse flexibilityonhighlyproductiveland.That meansaframeworktoenablecrops torotateonandoffdifferentparcels ofland,andovertimetoo,forgrowers tochangehorticulturalcropsbothto respondtomarketdemand,andtolook atwhatcropisbestforthelandover time.
Unfortunately,theregionalplan asitstandsdoesn’tsupportland useflexibility.Itproposesadifficult consentingpathtochangelanduseto growvegetables.It’snotclearifcrop rotationissupportedintheplan.HortNZ hasappealedtheplanandiscurrentlyin mediation.
Whyisthatimportant?
Over80%ofthevegetablesgrown inNewZealandareconsumed domestically.Wedon’t—andrealistically can’t—importenoughvegetablesto
meetNewZealanders’needs,making regionslikeHawke’sBayessentialfor foodsecurity.
ANZIERreporthighlightstheurgency: withoutpromptgovernmentactionto establishaclear,practicalregulatory frameworkforvegetableproduction, freshvegetablepricescouldrise sharply,impactingfamiliesacrossthe country.
Thereport,commissionedbyHortNZ, givestheexamplethatthepriceof broccolicouldgoashighas$27akilo,or about$9ahead,ifvegetableproduction iscutby20%asaresultofproposed
regulationsaimedatreducingnitrogen run-off.
HortNZcommissionedNZIERto considertheregulatoryframework requiredforcommercialvegetable productiontothriveinNewZealand. ThereportshowsthewaytheNational PolicyStatementforFreshwater(NPSFM)isbeinginterpretedandtranslated intofreshwaterregulationsbycouncils couldseverelyimpactvegetable production,leadingtosharpprice increasesforconsumers.
Withoutswiftadjustments,keycrops likebroccolicouldbecomesignificantly moreexpensive,underliningtheneed fortargetedreformsthatsupportboth environmental,freshwatergoalsand theaffordabilityofhealthyfoodinNew Zealand.
Thereportdrawsonresearchestimating thata20%reductioninvegetablesupply wouldpushvegetablepricesupbyat least20%andpotentially100%.
Toavoidthis,theGovernmentmust prioritisecommercialvegetable growingbecausethesupplyofhealthy vegetablesforNewZealandersshould beanationalpriorityandnotbeputin jeopardy.
WhiletheGovernmentismovingto changefreshwaterregulations,we encourageittomovefurtherandfaster tosafeguardthesmallbutirreplaceable commercialvegetablesectortoprovide
asecuresupplyofaffordablehealthy vegetables.
Thecurrentfreshwaterregulationsand regionalcouncilrulesareone-sizefits-allanddonotreflectthedifferent circumstancesofvegetablegrowing. Wewouldlikenewnationaldirection torecognisevegetableproductionisa matterofnationalimportanceandto makevegetableproductionapermitted activity,providedgrowersmeet FreshwaterFarmPlanrequirements, whichincludereducingtheimpact ofnitrogenleachingandsediment discharges.
2024 REALHEARTLAND
8
Friendofthesummerfruitindustry
ByChrysAyley
AgriculturalManagerfor HeinzWattiesHastings
BruceMackaywas recentlyhonouredwitha SummerfruitNZindustry supportaward.Thisaward recognisespeoplewithlongand dedicatedservicetoasupplier orservicerolethathaveworked beyondthecallofdutyforthe bettermentoftheNewZealand summerfruitindustry.
Brucewasattendinga summerfruitresearchmeeting andwassurprisedastheaward came“completelyoutofthe blue”.Ithinkit’srecognitionof therolemyselfandcolleagues areprovidingfortheindustry. Iwouldliketoexpressmy appreciationtoSummerfruitNZ, it’sarecognitionthatfeelsquite personal.”
Brucehasbeenfocused onsupportingtheresearch requirementofsummerfruitfor theprocessindustry.“We’renot interestedinmarketaccess, andwe’renotinterestedinfruit colourandwe’renotoverly interestedinslightsuperficial blemishesbecausewepeelallof ourproducts.Weareinterested infruitthat’slarge,firmandeasy toprocess,highyielding,quick toharvestandcheaptogrow. Ourrequirementsaredifferent
andit’squiteinterestingus beingsuchaminorpartofthe wholeindustrytoberecognized byanawardlikethis.”
CurrentlyWattiesareinvolved withincludetheCarbonPositive projectwhichwasinitiatedby theHawke’sBayFutureFarming Trustandisnowhalfwaythrough itssix-yeartimespan.Another projecthasinvolvedresearching thenutritionrequirements ofhighyieldingpeachand nectarinecropswiththesupport ofSummerfruitNZ.
Severalprojectsarerelatedto wateruse,especiallyoptimizing irrigation.“It’simportanttohave thedatatosupportseeking avolumeofwaterfromthe RegionalCouncilwhenapplying foraconsent.“Wecouldsee thesewaterissueswerecoming 15yearsagoandweweregoing tostartaccumulatingdataand informationtosupportour needsandthoseofourgrowers/ suppliersforwaterallocation goingforward.”
Brucewasamemberofthe TANKreferencegroupashe hasakeeninterestinwater resourcemanagementand believesinsupportingprimary producers.“We’veallgot differentpointsofview.Ithink itfairandreasonablethateach groupshouldberepresented
andshouldbegiventhe opportunitytoexpresstheir pointofview,butequallyeach shouldbepreparedtolistenand understandtheotherspointof viewaswell.”
Asapassionateprimary producer,“I’mamazedthatwe cantakeoneseedandproduce 40kgoftomatoesandwerepeat thateveryyearandgetbetter andbetteratit.It’sagreatteam,
everybodybringssomething tothegame,we’reluckywe haveamassoftalentedpeople inHawke’sBaythatwillwork togethertotryandgetthese outcomesforus.”
FORALLYOUR ACCOUNTANCYNEEDS
Ourserv r icesinclude:
GMSummerfruitNewZealandDeanSmith,left,BruceMackayandboardmember SummerfruitNewZealandRogerBrownlie.
Isittheend,orjustthebeginning?
ByCamilleFlack,BVSc, ProductionAnimalVeterinarianGroup Leader,VetServicesHawke’sBay
Weareinthemiddleofthatsilly seasonasweheadtowardsthe festiveseason.Itmayfeellike wearejustheadingtotheendofthe yearandtheendoftheseasonbutin factforaewebreedingpropertytheyear beginsatweaning.
Manyfarmersspendalotoftime consideringtheaveragepriceand weightoflambgoingoutthegatefrom nowuntilautumn.
But,byfocusingonthesetargets,you maybecompromisingtheabilitytoget betterreturnsnextyear,whichstarts withyourewesatweaning.
Somekeydriversforprofitonasheep farmare:
•kgweanedperhectare(numberof lambsweanedperhectare)
•weaningweightperlamb
Wecan’tchangetheweather,wecan’t changetheprice,butwecanchange thekilogramsgoingoutthegate–and itallhappensatthebeginning,nowat weaning.Insteadoftryingtomakeupon lostgroundbyfocusingonyourlambs now,considerswitchingyourfocuson thefeedforyourewes–before2025 mating,andtherestwilltakecareof itself.Considerwhereyourbreeding stockareat,atweaning,thenconsider the2024lambcropvsthe2025lamb crop.
Rememberautumn2024,lambswere onthepropertyforlongerthanwe allwanted.Decisionsweremadeat weaningtokeepthemon,priceswent evenfurthersouthandsellingstore wasn’tgreatearlyautumnandwehad towaituntillateautumn/earlywinter
beforethemoneyhadsomeupside:2th andewelambreplacementssufferedas aconsequence.
Considerplanningforweaningand beyondnow.What’smylambsales planfor2024,andbyinferencewhat doesthatmeanformyewelamb replacements,2thandMAewesahead ofmatingandlambingnextyear?What canthefarmhandleandwhatarethe conditionslike?
Pre-weaning:considerweighingsome lambstoidentifyifyouareaheador behind.Survivabilitywasgreatthis
season,sohasthismeantmorelambs butlesserweightperanimal.Body conditionscoreyourewesatweaning, identifyhowmanytailendewes.
Ifyoureweshavemorethansixweeks ofwoolonthem,theeyeisinaccurate andyoushouldusethehandasthe measuringtool(Beef+LambNZhavea greatguideontheirwebsite).Howmany ewesinthismob?Howmuchfeedwill theyrequiretoensuretheyhittarget matingweights?
Putallthisinformationtogether toformulateaplanpostweaning tomaximisethisyear’slambcrop whilstnotputtingatrisknextyears’ performance.
Yourmostefficientuseoffeedisto targetyourlesserconditionedewes.It takesalotmoregrasstogainweightina goodconditionewethanthatofalighter ewe.Thistargetedfeedingapproach ensuresyoumakethemostgainsoutof thefeedyouhave.
ToliftaeweBCSby1(withaweight increaseof7-9kg)itrequires30kg drymatter(DM)abovemaintenance requirements.Atagrowthrateof100g/ daythisincreaseinconditionwilltake 70-90daysiefromweaningtomating. Formaintenanceandgrowthinewes withaBCS<3,aewerequires1–1.2kg DM/day.Forexample,aeweweighing 55kg,growingat100g/dayrequires 1.54kgDM/day.
Oncethemobshavebeenspliton conditionpostweaning,itisimportant tomonitoreweconditiontoensure gainsaremadeandfeedinglevels areadequate.Werecommendbody
conditionscoring50-75ewesinthe mobmonthly(orwhentheypassbythe yards).
Ifmoreofyoureweflockareatorabove thebodyconditionscore3atmating youwillsee:
•Earliercyclinginthebreedingperiod
•Higherovulationrates
•Higherconceptionrates
•Heavierlambsatbirth
•Betterlactation
•Weanheavierlambswithhigher survivalrates
Nowsomefarmersmaybethinking,‘I don’tneedtoworryaboutthisbecause Iwilljustflushmyewespre-mating…..’. Flushingpre-matingcanalsobea waytoimproveeweconditionand
performance.However,flushingrequires alotofgoodqualityfeedinautumnand isverydependentonweather.Asthe weatherisoutofourcontrol,asafer goalistoreducethenumberoflowbody conditionscoreewesbeforeflushing. Ifyouwanttodiscussyouroptionswith avet,giveyourlocalVetServicesclinic acall.
